Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2019

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Ceisteanna (155)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason these is an insufficient number of eligible applications for approved permanent consultant posts in Children's Health Ireland, CHI; and the reason he has not restored pay parity for new entrant consultants as recommended in the Public Service Pay Commission report published in August 2018 in view of the fact that this is one of the main factors that is driving the required specialists abroad. [20967/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Public Service Pay Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, beyond the incremental credit adjustments, to address the pay differential between pre-existing consultants and new entrant consultants which has increased following the settlement of the 2008 Consultant Contract claim.

Last month, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform stated that outstanding matters relating to new entrant pay will be given full consideration either by any pay review mechanism agreed by the relevant parties; or in the context of the next round of pay talks. My Department has been in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to this.

I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to posts in CHI.

Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 153.